I am interested in this thread as I am hoping to use our Wrangler Unlimited as a TV for an as yet to be acquired 17B. Our Jeep is a 2013 Rubicon with 4:10 gearing, auto (w/ trans cooler), tow package and an aftermarket suspension. The load capacity is indeed small ~900 lbs. We have a popup top, stove and fridge mounted in our Jeep so there is not much capacity left after my wife and I get in. Although it would easier with a bigger TV, we like trips to remote locations and hope to use the 17B as a base camp from which we will explore further in the Jeep.

That looks like a slick setup in the Jeep.

It does seem like having RV equipment both in the Jeep and in the trailer is redundant, and so it would be obvious to eliminate one or the other. The popup camper could be removed from the Jeep, or the trailer could be stripped of its kitchen, saving weight either way. On the other hand, I can see wanting to keep the Jeep equipped for select trips without the trailer, or for when further afield than the home base trailer; I can also see wanting to keep the trailer fully equipped so meals could be enjoyed in the comfort of the trailer when at the trailer site. Two refrigerators of capacity would be nice.

The big capacity concern for towing with a Wrangler is with the 19'; it seems manageable to me with the 17B... although care will be needed with tongue weight due to the load already in the Jeep.

In other forums I have noticed that some Jeep TJ and JK owners run into concerns with load capacity even when not towing a trailer, due to the weight of all of the equipment that they carry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

You can remove the refer and stove since those will be in the camper.

It appears that this isn't just a refrigerator and stove; it is a camper insert with a pop-up roof... essentially a camper in itself.

It does seem like having RV equipment both in the Jeep and in the trailer is redundant, and so it would be obvious to eliminate one or the other. The popup camper could be removed from the Jeep, or the trailer could be stripped of its kitchen, saving weight either way. On the other hand, I can see wanting to keep the Jeep equipped for select trips without the trailer, or for when further afield than the home base trailer; I can also see wanting to keep the trailer fully equipped so meals could be enjoyed in the comfort of the trailer when at the trailer site. Two refrigerators of capacity would be nice.

The big capacity concern for towing with a Wrangler is with the 19'; it seems manageable to me with the 17B... although care will be needed with tongue weight due to the load already in the Jeep.

In other forums I have noticed that some Jeep TJ and JK owners run into concerns with load capacity even when not towing a trailer, due to the weight of all of the equipment that they carry.

It appears that this isn't just a refrigerator and stove; it is a camper insert with a pop-up roof... essentially a camper in itself.

Thanks, Brian. We like the Jeep a lot. It gets us to some awesome spots, but it is a little tight on multi-day trips for my wife and me, especially when we bring our two Aussie dogs. It was the perfect size, however, for my daughter when she took it for a three month tour of the West by herself.

Actually the top is separate from the fridge and stove. It is a fiberglass replacement for the OEM top. The aftermarket options for Jeep are pretty modular.

My wife tells me the fridge is the best mod we have made, and it is hard to disagree. We use it even when we are just doing day trips.

As you guessed, we are hoping to keep the fully outfitted Jeep and the fully outfitted 17B for different types of trips and for a base camp and overnight explore vehicle for some of the more remote places.

Hi Kelly, it almost seems we are in the same boat. I did see a Wrangler you have myself here at the dealership, awesome!
About your towing package: check which class they put on. It might be the wrong one. We asked our dealer what they normally put on when the Wrangler comes with a towing package, and that one was a class lower then ETI recommends.

About your towing package: check which class they put on. It might be the wrong one. We asked our dealer what they normally put on when the Wrangler comes with a towing package, and that one was a class lower then ETI recommends.

There is no purpose in having a hitch which is rated for a much higher capacity (and thus a higher class) than required. The Wrangler's capacity is 3500 pounds, which is the upper limit of Class 2. A 2" receiver box (rather than the 1.25" which is more commonly used for Class 2 hitches) is preferable, but the 2" dimension doesn't make it Class 3.

JK Wrangler hitches designed as Jeep intended consist of a receiver box bolted to the rear crossmember of the Jeep's frame. No matter how you construct that box, it won't change the strength of the crossmember, so there's no point in going overboard. Some people use a receiver built into an aftermarket bumper, and some of them have much higher capacity, and it wouldn't make sense to me to add one of those massive bumpers to get more hitch strength than you can use.

Many people will recommend a "Class 3" hitch when they really mean a 2" receiver.

Can you get a Class 2 hitch receiver for use with a weight distribution hitch? I think not. So, the reason for getting a Class 3 receiver is get one made for use with WDH.

First, a weight-distributing hitch seems like more of a problem than fix for a Wrangler Unlimited towing anything: it is not a short-wheelbase or lightweight vehicle so it doesn't need help with stability or weight transfer, and it is payload-limited and GCWR-limited so adding a huge lump of steel isn't the best way to fix excessive tongue weight.

The owner's manual says that the hitch weight limit is 350 pounds... WD or not. The manual includes a definition of a Weight-Distributing Hitch - along with a couple of non-vehicle-specific warnings - in the general definitions section, but provides no guidance for WD use specific to the Wrangler, and no suggestion that a WDH would magically exempt the operator from any of the limits. I saw no reason to use WDH with a Wrangler Unlimited before reading the manual, and still see none now.

You can't get a WDH for a 1.25" receiver, so if you do choose to use WD, you need a 2" receiver... which isn't necessarily Class 3. If you are putting a bike rack or other accessory in the receiver, the 2" size is generally preferred... still doesn't need to be Class 3. The aftermarket hitches from Curt and Cequent which bolt on in the method designed by Jeep are the 2" size and do allow WD use (and are rated barely into Class 3 only if using WD). In a quick search of online discussions, it appears that the OEM hitch is also 2", but I didn't see a size indication on the Jeep website.

Mine can with a 2" receiver, although the manual describes it as a Class II. I hadn't heard that a Class II will not work with a WDH. I will look into that. I have no experience with WDHs, as my other TV is a 3/4 ton 4x4 Suburban and the heaviest trailer/boat combo I currently have is around 5000lbs.

I will have some additional work to do on the Jeep before doing any real towing -- change the 4 pin to 7 pin, installing a brake controller, upgrading the braking components and perhaps installing a beefier anti-sway bar.

Thanks to all for the thoughts. I has been helpful as I sort through these issues.

Hi Kelly, it almost seems we are in the same boat. I did see a Wrangler you have myself here at the dealership, awesome!
About your towing package: check which class they put on. It might be the wrong one. We asked our dealer what they normally put on when the Wrangler comes with a towing package, and that one was a class lower then ETI recommends.

Hi Marry - I will be following your progress closely . It would be great if it turns out the JKUR works as a TV for a 19!

Can you get a Class 2 hitch receiver for use with a weight distribution hitch? I think not. So, the reason for getting a Class 3 receiver is get one made for use with WDH.

Hi Gbaglo - I was intending to PM you about towing with a RAV4. From what I saw, it looks like the RAV4 is only tow rated for 1500lbs in the US. Clearly I am missing something as there appear to be others using RAV4s as TVs. Can you share your experiences towing the 17 with your RAV4?